Yachting in Cuba with TOCA Trips
YACHTING IN CUBA ATTENTION YACHTING ENTHUSIASTS! Yachting in Cuba for leisure is a relatively new concept that is attracting the yachting community to the waters of the largest of the Caribbean islands. TOCA Trips has over 25 years experience creating cultural and humanitarian programs for clients interested in exploring Cuba’s unique gifts, and yachting in Cuba with TOCA Trips is one of the most enjoyable and exciting ways to get insights into the island’s ecological initiatives, culture, and history through yachting and sailing tours, private yacht services and more. Over the years, we have developed deep and loyal bonds with local contacts, not only in the marine industry for yachting in Cuba but also in the cultural, business, and opinion-making sectors. This allows us to offer you a perfectly tailored OFAC-compliant travel experience that unfolds an enriching view of this fascinating archipelago while you are yachting in Cuban waters. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean; with 2,000 nm of coastline; over 4000 islands; an intact ecosystem; and warm, steady winds. These ideal natural conditions plus the emerging luxury infrastructure make yachting in Cuba an ideal way to visit Cuba legally and get to know and embrace the Cuban people. In Havana, you will find the Hemingway International Yacht Club, the local organization that is spearheading non-governmental efforts to provide and create the ideal conditions for yachting in Cuba. Check out: Bossa Nova Sinfonico & TOCA: A Resounding Success in Havana! The Hemingway International Yacht Club links to over 40 other nautical clubs worldwide and holds fishing and diving tournaments as well as regularly scheduled meetings and year-round activities for its members. Only 90 miles from Florida’s Key West, Cuba is easy to reach by water or air, and well worth the trip to discover it’s vast and natural beauty. With TOCA Trips Your yachting in Cuba experience doesn’t just begin and end in the water. Our deep knowledge of Cuba’s culture and history, along with our long-established relationship with the island’s cultural and business professionals and institutional support, gives us a very special perspective when it comes to introducing our clients to Cuban life, past and present. In this regard, we will tailor a customized on and offshore itinerary that suits your individual wishes. Whether it is to explore the many diverse facets of Cuba’s history and overall culture, to organize a diving expedition to explore the health of the coral reefs and marine life, or to take you to a secluded beach to watch the turtles lay their eggs and protect the pristine ecosystem. TOCA Trips offers you a yachting in Cuba experience that will remain with you for a lifetime as you strengthen your family and professional bonds while yachting on Cuba’s waters. On land, our people-to-people itineraries invite you to come ashore to enjoy an even more personal and holistic relationship to island culture. A Corporate Incentive Program in Havana by TOCA: A PanAmerican Cultural Encounter! At TOCA Trips, we offer full-service travel expertise, including: Pre-trip consultation, Visas, Navigation permits, Navigation planning, Marina reservations, Dockage, Offshore anchorage. Additionally, we can easily arrange private flights, luxury yacht charters, hotel and restaurant reservations, bilingual guides and staff, contact with environmentalists or researchers, and our exclusive destination programing and concierge services, depending on your needs and desires. Our mission is to make yachting in Cuba as easy, interesting, exciting, and informative as possible. So come aboard and set your sights on being a part of the TOCA Trips yachting in Cuba experience as you learn about the joy and beauty of this one-of-a-kind island. Check us out at www.tocatrips.com
TOCA Culture Presents Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana, Cuba
TOCA Culture presents Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana Cuba MIAMI, USA (March 24, 2016) — The Miami-based cultural institution, TOCA Culture, will present Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana, Cuba on May 15th, as the opening concert for the 2016 Cuba Disco Festival. In a historic move, Cuba’s National Symphonic Orchestra will share the stage with U.S. artists based in Miami. This momentous occasion coincides with the Festival’s 20th anniversary. The orchestra, guest musicians, and the Cuban fans of Brazilian music are looking forward to this award-winning program that celebrates ever increasing cultural dialogue between Cuba, Brazil and the U.S. The collaborative performance will be led by the Symphonic Orchestra’s Maestro Enrique Perez Mesa. Bossa Nova Sinfónico is a project founded with the purpose of sustaining Antonio Carlos Jobim’s body of work and legacy among music lovers everywhere. Jobim was the most pivotal figure in Brazilian popular music over the last century. His music has permeated cultures around the world. Jobim’s compositions coupled with the symphony orchestra format and the traditional Brazilian Jazz quintet gives this project its unique appeal. The quintet is formed by singer Rose Max, guitar player Ramatis Moraes, bassist Jamie Ousley, pianist Michael Orta and drummer Carlomagno Araya. Conductor Jeremy Fox, from the original concert in Costa Rica, will be part of the encounter, working together with maestro Perez Mesa. In its first year, this project was performed in Central America, Mexico, and the United States. Its premier in Costa Rica along with the National Symphony Orchestra (March 2013) resulted in the release of a live recording. The CD “Bossa Nova Sinfónico Recordando a Antonio Carlos Jobim” garnered a Latin Grammy nomination, as well as winning “Best CD of the Year” at the 2014 Brazilian Press Awards. “The music of Jobim is universal, and provides the ideal framework to present our PanAmerican musical encounter,” states TOCA Culture director Robson Coccaro. “We are at such a transformative moment in U.S.-Cuban relations, and we are thrilled to be collaborating creatively with Maestro Pérez and Cuba’s National Symphony Orchestra. Much like Jobim’s subtle use of rich harmonies in his music, our hope is that this performance will encourage harmony and further stimulate the cultural dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba”. ABOUT TOCA CULTURE TOCA Culture is a not-for-profit cultural organization that promotes the visual and performing arts through cultural exchange and performative encounters throughout the Americas, with particular focus on Brazil-USA-Cuba interface. We support established as well as emerging artists, and produce live and virtual events to showcase their works and introduce their offerings to a global audience. Bossa Nova Sinfónico is scheduled to be presented at the Cuba Disco Music Festival in Havana, Cuba under the direction of Maestro Enrique Pérez Mesa with the National Symphony Orchestra. This showcase of Brazilian Bossa Nova, performed by Brazilian artists based in the US and Cuban musicians from the national orchestra, embodies the cross-cultural focus of TOCA Culture. www.tocaculture.org
Cienfuegos: Cuba’s Hidden Gem
Perhaps many of our readers have never heard of the city of Cienfuegos in Central Cuba, but it is time to take notice of this beautiful enclave by the sea! The Pearl of the South—as locals affectionally call it—sits by a vast bay and harbor that are ideal for sailing and water sports. Cienfuegos is poised to become one of the main tourist destinations in Cuba forecasting the onslaught of cruise activity that will descend upon the island in the coming years, which could more than triple the number of travelers visiting this beautiful island nation. With that idea in mind, the local government has embarked in a comprehensive tourist expansion plan that should be completed by the year 2030. The ambitious project will revamp the city’s infrastructure to welcome more tourists. The city’s location in the center of the island–and the presence of an international airport–make Cienfuegos the ideal starting place for visiting some of the country’s most beautiful sites. These include the nearby town of Trinidad, founded on 1514 and preserved to retain its Spanish Colonial essence, as well as the Valle de los Ingenios, one of the most important sugar production hubs since the 18th century—both declared UNESCO Heritage Sites. From Cienfuegos, we can visit the Ciénaga de Zapata, the island’s largest swamp and an example of Cuba’s efforts to maintain one of the most pristine ecosystems in the Caribbean. The mountains of the Escambray emerge from the North side of the city and rise to 3,000 feet above sea level. There are multiple caves, rivers, waterfalls, grottos, canyons, natural pools with crystal clear water, and mountains teeming with mariposa—Cuba’s national flower—announcing their presence with a soft and unique fragrance from June to early September. For those looking for the Fountain of Youth, we recommend a visit to the thermal baths at Ciego Montero, Cuba’s most popular spa. The Escambray is home to more that 40 species of orchids and giant, seven-foot ferns endemic to the island. Bird watching, hiking and taking advantage of the lush forests and fresh air are perhaps the main amenities in the Central Cuban Mountains. TOCA Events prides itself in finding unknown destinations for our clients. We take you places where culture and history take priority over more mundane activities. More than exotic, Cienfuegos is a real place, where the locals welcome foreigners with a warm embrace that lasts during the entire trip. Proud of their heritage and magnificent architecture, Cienfuegueros are soulful, lively and musical. And they have plenty of reasons to be proud. The city of about 150,000 inhabitants was founded 1819 by French immigrants from Bordeaux and Louisiana led by Don Louis de Clouet who settled the land known as Fernandina de Jagua on behalf of the Spanish king Ferdinand VII. The name of the settlement was changed in 1880 in honor of the island’s Governor Don José Cienfuegos. The city is considered young by Cuban standards since the main villas on the island were founded in the 16th and 17th centuries. Cienfuegos is very different from other Cuban cities and has a distinct look and feel while retaining many impressive landmarks, including stunning palaces, quaint squares and beautiful theaters. The city has kept its Gaelic heritage with a modern layout and eclectic architecture. We start our periplus visiting some of the city’s most emblematic sites. The bay is lined with a scenic promenade (Malecón) where locals and visitors stroll peacefully at dusk taking in the Caribbean breeze and the glorious, melancholic sunsets. Cienfuegos also boasts the island’s longest tree-lined boulevard. Known as El Paseo del Prado, this strip is the city’s most popular artery and the meeting place for locals who come out everyday to enjoy the shade, socialize and keep their culture alive. Paseo del Prado covers the western part of the city and leads to Punta Gorda, home to some of the most beautiful houses in town, including the iconic Palacio del Valle. The 1913 building—a symbol of the city—displays a series of architectural elements reminiscent of Spanish Moorish art. The builders sought inspiration in myriad styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Mudejar, a cacophony of influences that resulted in a gorgeous and balanced palace. Although a small city, we encourage you to take a few days to discover and enjoy its parks, plazas, and monuments where you become immersed in a generous display of neoclassical, art nouveau and art deco imagery. The great weather year-round will help and inspire you to walk the lovely streets of the Historic Center, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring the impressive José Martí Park, one of the most beautiful and well preserved in Cuba; the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with its asymmetric towers, and the dome of the Government Palace. Also nearby is the historic 19th-century Terry Theater, a revered institution within the Cuban art scene. Towering over te entrance to the bay is Jagua Castle, Cienfuegos’ oldest fortress, built in 1745 to protect the city from corsairs and pirates. One shouldn’t leave Cienfuegos without visiting the Marina and Nautical Club, a stately building by the bay offering sunset cruises, catamaran outings, and access to the best diving in this part of Cuba. Also worth visiting, the vast Botanical Gardens founded in 1901 under the name “Harvard Botanical Station for Tropical Research and Sugar Cane Investigation”. Today, the garden boasts a large collection of exotic plants including endemic orchids, palms, ficus, bamboo and species from other latitudes. Cienfuegos is a gift from the gods. It continues to draw inspiration from its French origins while staying modern and relevant, beautiful and promising. The sea frames the city with a warm embrace and the blue waters that surround it are a true privilege. Cienfuegos is a cultural cluster located between the sea and the mountains. TOCA Events, under its division TOCA Trips, offers curated, personalized trips to Cienfuegos and other Cuban destinations where we share our experiences and knowledge with sophisticated travels looking for exposure to something they may not have experienced before. You
Havana’s International Jazz Festival and TOCA Culture
Picture a crowded basement. The lights are dim, the air thick with smoke and anticipation. A late night set is well into its umpteenth hour as local and international jazz greats make their way to the stage, adding their particular stamp to the continued improvisation. It could be twenty years ago, or it could be the present, but there is no doubt that this is Havana, Cuba on a night not to be missed. In Cuba you have music for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, and snacks. Its in the clubs, its on the curbs. And when it comes to jazz, it inhabits the late night into the morning, penetrating your very cells down to the marrow of your bones. This is the Cuba we at TOCA love and its the Havana that stands everyone on their heads during the annual Havana International Jazz Festival. In December 2015 from December 13 to the 21st, the Havana International Jazz Festival once again will be magnetizing jazz lovers from all over the world. For nine days and eight nights, attendees will be privy to some of the most astonishing musical talent at venues around the city including concerts at the Mella, Nacional, and Amadeo Roldan theatres and throughout the city’s many, many clubs. Hang out on any one of these nights at the Jazz Cafe or La Zorra y el Cuervo and you’re sure to see your favorite jazz luminaries adding their heat to the fire. The Havana International Jazz Festival was born in 1978 as the Jazz Plaza Festival when Cuban jazz showman Bobby Carcasses and a host of other exceptional Cuban musicians presented the first jazz concert in the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza. The following year featured keyboard great and five-time Grammy winner, Chucho Valdes, who became the director of the festival in 1996. As one of the most thrilling events for jazz lovers, the festival combines the allure of Cuba itself with some of the greatest icons of jazz music. In the past, the festival has featured artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tete Montoliu, Charlie Haden, Max Roach, Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Carmen McRae, Leon Thomas, Airto Moreira, Tania Maria, Dave Velentin, Ivan Lins, and Michael Legrand. This year will be no different, with local and internationally acclaimed musicians coming in from everywhere to add their talent to the stunning and innovative scene that thrives in Havana. Never shirking our responsibility to share the fun, TOCA Culture will be there to provide people-to-people educational exchanges, combining encounters with Old Havana, Ciefuegos, and other UNESCO treasures with the excitement of the festival’s abundant musical offerings. With a mission to offer an intimate view of Cuban culture, we are looking forward to a total immersion into Havana’s musical pulse, from Afro-Cuban to Bossa Nova, improvisational, and free jazz… and everything in-between, above, and beyond! For more information on TOCA Culture and the Havana International Jazz Festival, contact us today at: www.tocaevents.com www.tocaculture.org www.tocatrips.com
The Burgeoning Dance Scene in Cuba
Having recently returned from an inspiring trip to Cuba, we were deeply affected by the spirit of the people there. Their profound love of life, indomitable spirit, and a fierce energy filled with the joy and lust for making the most of each day is ubiquitous in a place where on the surface, time has seemed to stop. One of the most striking examples of the Cuban spirit is the love of dance. The country is filled with an unavoidable exuberance that starts with music and then gathers you into its arms inviting you to move your hips and join the fiesta! With roots in Spanish and African culture, Cuban folkloric dance includes Salsa, Danzón, Mambo, Rumba, Bolero, Cha Cha, Congo, and more. Passionate and sensual, these dance forms have affected cultures all around the world, bringing people together in an undeniable spirit of celebration. With Castro in power, folkloric dance has been one of the most prevalent forms, often seen in a formal frame at the Gran Teatro de la Habana. Ballet too has occupied a strong position in Cuban culture. The Ballet Nacional de Cuba, founded by Alicia Alonso in 1948, has maintained over the years a very classical and conservative repertoire, with little variation on the standard themes such as Swan Lake and Giselle. In 1959 the Conjunto Nacional de Danza Moderna was founded by Ramiro Guerra, who danced with Martha Graham’s company in the United States. Combining ballet technique with Afro-Caribbean dance, audiences were steeped in a distinctly unique flavor expressing the Cuban spirit. The company is now called Danza Contemporànea de Cuba (DCC) and boasts 60 dancers chosen from the famed Escuela Nacional de Arte under the direction of Miguel Iglesias. Many dance aficianados are familiar with the well-known and exquisitely talented Carlos Acosta, who was born in Havana in 1973. Acosta trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba and has danced with many companies outside of the country, including England’s Royal Ballet where he has been principal dancer since 1998. Along with now retired José Manuel Carreño, who danced with companies such as the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and who presently runs the Carreño Dance Festival in Sarasota, Florida, Acosta remains an inspiration to young Cuban ballet dancers who wish to push the limits. Over the last several years, Cuban dance has been able to push the limits. More and more we see experimental dance companies being founded, with many young choreographers expressing their thirst for new forms. Small companies such as Malpaso are starting to make big waves in the contemporary dance scene. Founded in 2012 by Osnel Delgado, Dailedys Carrazana, and Fernando Saéz, the company consists of young dancers from some of the country’s most renowned dance schools and is acclaimed as one of Cuba’s best. Ballet Rakatan is another example of the burgeoning dance scene. Founded in 2001 by dancer/choreographer Nilda Guerra, the company combines Cuban and Latin dance styles with contemporary technique. With dancers trained at the Escuela Nacional de Arte, Ballet Rakatan tours all over the world, immersing audiences in the spice and pulse of popular Cuban dance marinated in world-class technique. www.tocaevents.com www.tocatrips.com
Revving Up for TOCA Cuba
With its tropical climate; warm soothing waters; over 5,000 coasts bordering both the Atlantic and Caribbean; natural reserves, landscapes, and parks; and stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites, Cuba has everything it needs to becoming a leading tourist destination. Already plans are in action to update and expand the hospitality industry in order to accommodate the expected influx of business and resort tourism, and TOCA Cuba is in place to help coordinate what will be a boom in event production. With news of Obama’s opening the gates for a new relationship with Cuba, local entrepreneurs are excited about the fresh air that will finally enter their city. After the 50 year embargo, the nation stands to develop into a brilliant destination for meetings, workshops, congresses, festivals, and other special events, and we plan to be one of the major players in helping to develop the local economy. Just 90 miles from Key West, Florida, Cuba became a magnet for tourism back in 1915, when it was actually the most visited city in the Caribbean. Prohibition was on and the island was the place to go for its natural beauty along with legalized alcohol and gambling. During the great depression and WWII, tourism slowed down, only to build up again in the 1950’s until ’59 when Fidel Castro overthrew the pro-American dictator Fulgencio Batista. During this time foreign influx was looked down upon and new internal policies were created that led to JFK’s embargo in 1962, where Cuba turned to the USSR for support. Later on tourism came back into favor, driven by European and Canadian interest. Today visitors still need a license to enjoy the island, which can be found with licensed travel service providers. However with American travelers now able use their US credit cards, and cruise ship companies and airlines expanding their services to accommodate the expected huge influx of tourism, it is easy to predict the future. The hospitality industry is girding up, with Melia Hotels International opening a stunning hotel with 1,176 rooms on the island of Cayo Coco and many other hotels preparing for the competition. Even AirBnB now has approximately 1,000 listings in Havana alone! At TOCA Events we are excited about the renovation, renewal, and revenue that will positively affect the Cuban population. New strategies are coming into view and a positive trend is already in place for the first quarter of 2015 that according to “Hospitality On” shows that arrivals are up from the previous year by 14.2%. The vitality of the country has always been a powerful allure to anyone attracted to a population with heart and soul, a landscape that ignites the senses, and all the culture one could hope for in one place. Cuba boasts over 120 art galleries, 260 museums, over 80 theaters, along with exhibition halls and hotels that are made for world-class events. With all of this in mind, TOCA is already forming liasons with artists, vendors, and venues as we create an organic connection with the Cuban community. In service to our future involvement with Cuba, as well as with other Spanish-speaking countries, TOCA Events has now added a Spanish version of our website as we move into this next exciting phase. www.tocaevents.com